Put Five Seconds to Good Use

It takes time to run a business successfully. Often there are roadblocks and u-turns and stops and starts along the way. Personal development and growth are an integral part of it. Let’s face it: your business takes grit and hustle and plenty of self-confidence. Here’s a book our RUN boys enjoyed that inspired us to make some changes, especially when we discovered how little time it took: ONLY FIVE SECONDS!

Mel Robbins, in her international bestseller, The 5 Second Rule, emphasizes that it truly takes such little time to change one’s life. By using a few seconds wisely, one can pursue dreams, build confidence, make more money – and the list goes on and on. How? This five-second rule teaches you how to change! Let’s explore this some more.

Here’s the rule itself: “The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal you must 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move or your brain will stop you” (Robbins, 2017, p. 35).

So, how can you use it? By retraining your brain, you can use it to change behaviors, act with courage, and control your mind.

Changing Your Behaviors

Often we have habits that we would like to break and others that we would like to start. What are some of yours? Let’s say you tend to overthink. As soon as you catch yourself doing that, just put a stop to it by merely counting backwards to tick away those seconds: 5-4-3-2-1. Let’s say you’d like to start exercising more, but who really wants to do that? If you find yourself avoiding those running shoes, start moving and count to five. Those five seconds might be all it eventually takes to break the habit.

Acting with Courage

What about everyday actions? Sometimes we need to be brave enough to do something – like give a presentation or deliver some bad news. As soon as we sense that we are getting ready to duck out, envision yourself doing it – and then, you guessed it: move and count for five seconds. You can shoo away any doubt you may have and not only do what it takes, but do it successfully. Those five seconds can change your perspective and keep you moving forward.

Controlling Your Mind

We have so many thoughts during the day that ricochet around, pestering us, questioning what we are doing and saying, and even insulting us. Those negative voices in our minds can distract us from doing what we plan to do, keeping us from moving forward with confidence. Become aware of those and seal them to silence. How? You guessed it. Move and count backwards: 5-4-3-2-1. Replace those nag nudges with affirmations and encouragement. You can become your own cheerleader! Who else would be better at doing that than you? Those five seconds can clean up your language and cheer you on instead.

As Robbins tells us in this book, it doesn’t take much time to change your direction and put wind in your sails. Try it for a week – or better yet, a month – and check out the results. Pick up the book if you’d like to be motivated! Another thing you can do with five seconds? Come and join us at Rank Up Now. Click here to join us and give your business a boost.